Translation of the paywalled article:

Wolfsburg. The Managing Director of Sport sees Wolfsburg’s women's football team as remaining well-positioned—and reveals an interesting detail from the new head of the women's team's VfL contract.

By Daniel Hotop, Sports Wolfsburg/Braunschweig

July 5, 2026, 7:00 AM

VfL Press Conference

With his new position as Managing Director of Sport at VfL Wolfsburg, Dieter Hecking has taken on several major tasks. The one closest to his heart—following two stints as their head coach—is responsibility for the men's team, with whom he aims to achieve a return to the Bundesliga as quickly as possible.

At the same time, however, the 61-year-old executive is also responsible for the youth academy and the women's team (the "Wölfinnen"). The latter are once again undergoing a period of transition, most notably due to the changeover from the architect of their success, Ralf Kellermann, to Vanessa Bernauer. Hecking has already held in-depth discussions with the new sporting director—and reveals a previously undisclosed detail of her contract.

"On one hand, we want to add quality; on the other, we want to remain an attractive destination for talent from both home and abroad. That must continue to be our path."

Hecking had not previously engaged with women's football professionally as intensively as he is doing in his new VfL role. However, during his time as Board Member for Sport at 1. FC Nürnberg, he was responsible for the professionalization of the FCN women's team and worked closely with Sporting Director Osman Cankaya. Hecking had actually played football against Kellermann in the past and, during his first stint as a VfL coach, had watched several matches involving the *Wölfinnen* (the women's team) in person—including two Champions League finals. Hecking is currently immersing himself in the subject, stating: "Women's football is highly valued by us, and by me personally."

Hecking is well aware that VfL faces ambitious challenges: "The competitive landscape has changed significantly, both domestically and internationally. We are in the process of adapting to these market realities so that we can remain ambitious. That is certainly our goal." Unlike his predecessor Peter Christiansen, however, Hecking does not publicly declare winning specific titles as the objective. He recognizes that the two-time domestic double winners from Munich are now playing in a different league. Yet, Hecking notes with a healthy sense of self-confidence: "We don't need to sell ourselves short, either."

The club sent a clear signal with the signing of Danish international forward Cecilie Floe Nielsen (from SSC Napoli), for whom they paid a record VfL transfer fee of 400,000 euros. Hecking comments: "The fact that we can facilitate a transfer like this underscores our ambitions. On one hand, we want to add quality to the squad; on the other, we want to remain an attractive destination for talent from both Germany and abroad. That must continue to be our path." Recently, VfL had lost its status as a stepping-stone club, as top clubs—such as FC Barcelona, ​​Olympique Lyonnais, and teams from the English Women’s Super League—have begun approaching the most promising players at an increasingly early stage.

How will they achieve this? Through a great deal of persuasion to show that VfL remains the right club for growth. But also through transfer fees: "Everything is getting a bit more expensive given the changing market conditions. Nevertheless, we still see ourselves in a position where we can make it happen." Hecking does not rule out the possibility that the recently set record fee for Danish striker Floe Nielsen could be broken again. The club will have to be prepared to do so in order to at least maintain its current competitive standing. However, the Managing Director of Sport emphasizes: "It has to be balanced. We won’t just spend money; we also need to recoup it through transfers." And regarding new signings, he stresses: "It won’t always be on the scale of the Cecilie Floe Nielsen deal."

Bernauer still has plenty of work ahead of her regarding the squad: several players are looking to leave the club, including Janou Levels and Guro Bergsvand. Justine Kielland’s move to Aston Villa was finalized on Friday, with VfL receiving around €300,000 for the Norwegian. The Wolfsburg team needs to strengthen in a number of positions. Assembling the squad will take significantly longer than in previous years—possibly right up until the summer transfer window closes on September 1.

What makes the 61-year-old optimistic about the *Wölfinnen* (the Wolfsburg women's team) is that the club appears to have made a great choice in appointing former *Wölfinnen* midfielder Vanessa Bernauer as Kellermann’s successor. "We are in very regular contact. From my perspective, she has made an excellent start because she tackles issues head-on and has a clear overview of the market. Her demeanor is highly professional, and our collaboration is built on a great deal of trust," Hecking emphasizes. "I see someone who fully identifies with the role and the club. Together with Stephan Lerch—whom I also hold in high regard—we are well-positioned to successfully continue developing women's football in Wolfsburg."

Hecking also reveals that Bernauer—who was officially scheduled to start on July 1—received clearance from her former club, FC Zürich, ahead of schedule. Her first official day on the job was actually two weeks earlier, on June 17. "She is stepping into big shoes, but I am convinced that Vanessa will develop very well in this position." One thing is clear: the new sporting director fully supports the "She-Wolves" and already has a very good grasp of the sporting situation."

"Zoe Schick suffered an ACL at the U19 European Championship. Independently of this, the club has extended the 17-year-old's contract on a long-term basis."

Translation:

Despite Barcelona being interested: Top Talent Set to Stay at HSV?

Despite significant interest from both domestic and international clubs, current signs point to attacking talent Lotta Wrede remaining with HSV for the time being.

The 18-year-old is considered one of the brightest prospects in German women's football and has recently been linked to several top clubs. Alongside domestic top clubs Wolfsburg and Munich, FC Barcelona is also reportedly monitoring the winger closely.

Speculation intensified recently following a video that showed Wrede at the Spanish top club's training ground. An imminent departure from Hamburg seemed like only a matter of time. However, according to the latest information from the *Hamburger Abendblatt*, the U19 international's future could remain much more closely tied to HSV than previously assumed.

Notably, the "Rothosen" (HSV) have not yet officially bid farewell to Wrede, despite her contract expiring on June 30. This could indicate that both parties are still working toward a shared future. Several scenarios are conceivable: Wrede could sign a contract with FC Barcelona but then be loaned back to HSV for another season. Alternatively, a contract extension in Hamburg followed by a later transfer cannot be ruled out.

Lotta Wrede: Staying at HSV Due to injury?

The attacking player's injury situation appears to play a key role in this. Wrede has been working on her comeback since sustaining a foot injury while playing for the German U19 national team in early April. She has not yet returned to the training pitch.

Precisely for this reason, another year at the Volkspark could be a sensible option for all parties involved. It would give Wrede the chance to fully rehabilitate in a familiar environment and subsequently gain valuable match experience at the highest national level. At Champions League winners Barcelona, ​​her chances of playing time would naturally be significantly more limited."

Offener Brief gegen das IOC: Geschlechtertests haben Auswirkungen auf Kinder- und Jugendsport

29Juni

von Annika Becker

Wissenschaftler*innen der Deutschen Vereinigung für Sportwissenschaft kritisieren in einem offenen Brief die neue IOC-Policy zu Geschlechtertests und rufen alle Interessierten zur Mitzeichnung auf. Die Regelung trifft nicht nur den Spitzensport.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Offener Brief kann von allen mitgezeichnet werden
• Auswirkungen auf Kinder- und Jugendsport
• Weiterführende Links

Wer unsere Arbeit hier auf der Bolztribüne und im Podcast schon eine Weile verfolgt, weiß, dass wir eine klare Haltung haben und für einen für alle Geschlechter offenen Sport einstehen. Deswegen möchten wir auf den offenen Brief der Wissenschaftler*innen und Mitglieder der Kommission Geschlechter- und Diversitätsforschung innerhalb der Deutschen Vereinigung für Sportwissenschaft (dvs) hinweisen. Sie reagieren damit darauf, dass das Internationale Olympische Komitee (IOC) am 26. März 2026 unter seiner Präsidentin Kirsty Coventry ein neues Regelwerk veröffentlichte, das ab den Olympischen Spielen 2028 in Los Angeles verpflichtende Geschlechtertests für alle Athletinnen in der Frauenkategorie einführt.

Offener Brief kann von allen mitgezeichnet werden

Den vollständigen offenen Brief gibt es hier zum Nachlesen, mitzeichnen lässt er sich auf openPetition. Zu den Verfasser*innen und Erstunterzeichner*innen gehört u.a. Karolin Heckemeyer, den „Becker & Pfeiffer“-Hörer*innen schon bekannt aus Folge 53 zu Sport und Gender. Teil des Briefs sind neben den wissenschaftlichen Quellbelegen (siehe Brief selbst) auch jede Menge weiterführende Links zu Statements anderer Akteur*innen und Informationsressourcen für Journalist*innen und die breite Öffentlichkeit (siehe unten).

An diese Öffentlichkeit richten sich die Wissenschaftler*innen mit ihrer Kritik am IOC, ihr Brief kann von allen mitgezeichnet werden, die das Anliegen teilen. Gewünscht wird eine konstruktive Diskussion innerhalb von Verbänden, Vereinen und anderen Organisationen: „Wie ist es möglich, dass wir Sport als einen gesellschaftlichen Kontext gestalten, in dem Menschen aller Geschlechter gleichberechtigt aktiv sein, sich sicher fühlen und Erfolge feiern können?“

Kritisiert werden die unmittelbaren, diskriminierenden Folgen des neuen Regelwerks des IOC und die Fehleranfälligkeit des festgeschriebenen Testverfahrens, die Instrumentalisierung von Forschung und Wissenschaft bei gleichzeitiger fehlender Nachvollziehbarkeit sowie fehlenden oder widersprüchlicher wissenschaftlicher Evidenz und die Instrumentalisierung des „Safe-Sport“-Diskurses.

Auswirkungen auf Kinder- und Jugendsport

Das neue Regelwerk vollzieht laut Brief bedeutet den dauerhaften Ausschluss von trans* und inter* Frauen aus dem Sport, laut Brief weit über den Spitzensport hinaus:

>„Entgegen der Ausführungen von Kirsty Coventry im Rahmen der Pressekonferenz am 26. März 2026 als die Wiedereinführung der Geschlechtertests verkündet wurde, bleiben die Effekte der IOC-Regularien nicht auf den Spitzensport beschränkt. Sie reichen weit darüber hinaus. Denn die Policy hat eine Signal- und Vorbildwirkung für den organisierten Sport allgemein und somit auch für den Breitensport und die dort stattfindenden Wettkämpfe. In der Policy weist das IOC selbst darauf hin, dass sich Athlet*innen bereits früh in ihrer Laufbahn testen lassen sollten, damit sie informierte Entscheidungen über ihre Beteiligung an Wettkämpfen der Frauenkategorie treffen können. Die neuen Regelungen werden also auch weitreichende Konsequenzen für den wettkampforientierten Sport im Kinder- und Jugendbereich haben.“

Kinder und Jugendliche und deren Eltern sollen, wenn es nach dem IOC geht, bitte erstmal einen Geschlechtertest durchführen, bevor sie überlegen, ob Sport überhaupt in Frage kommt. Und das mit einem unzuverlässigen Testverfahren. Der von IOC vorgeschriebene SRY-Gentest war bereits 2000 nach ethischer und medizinischer Kritik wegen seiner Fehleranfälligkeit abgeschafft worden.

>„Der Test kann zwar das Vorhandensein eines SRY-Gens prüfen, jedoch nicht die Funktionsfähigkeit des Gens. Das SRY-Gen wird als zentraler Indikator für das Vorhandensein eines Y-Chromosoms und damit für die Entwicklung eines männlichen Geschlechtskörpers betrachtet. Gerade aber bestimmte Inter*-Varianten wie die 46,XY-Androgeninsensitivität oder das 47,XXY-Klinefelter-Syndrom reagieren positiv auf diese Tests, ohne dass die Personen und ihre Körper der normativen Vorstellung eines männlichen Geschlechtskörpers entsprechen.

>Zudem bleibt festzuhalten, dass das bloße Vorhandensein eines Y-Chromosoms nicht automatisch einen höheren Testosteron-Wert und auch nicht zwingend eine gesteigerte sportliche Leistungsfähigkeit ergibt. Der SRY-Test vereinfacht somit komplexe biologische Zusammenhänge unzulässig und erscheint damit als Grundlage für weitreichende Ausschlussentscheidungen nur eingeschränkt geeignet.“

Dass das IOC sich dennoch auf wissenschaftliche Evidenz beruft, ohne aber die zugrundeliegenden Studien zu benennen, werfen die Autor*innen dem IOC als Instrumentalisierung vor: „Die intransparenten bzw. fehlenden Verweise auf empirische Studien in der IOC Policy legen nahe, dass diese vorrangig der Legitimation bereits bestehender normativer Setzungen dient.“

Auch die Verwendung des Begriffs „Safe Sport“ zur Begründung der Policy wird scharf kritisiert: Dahinter verberge sich eine „paternalistische Debatte zum Schutz von Frauen“, die historisch immer wieder zum Ausschluss von Frauen aus dem Sport geführt habe und die nun trans* und inter* Personen als Bedrohung rahme. Dabei liegt diese für alle Frauen in einem unzuverlässigen, übergriffigen Testverfahren und den Folgen durch beispielsweise medial befeuerten öffentlichen Hass.

>„Frauen im Sport zu schützen und zu fördern, würde vielmehr bedeuten, den Fokus auf strukturelle und finanzielle Benachteiligungen des Frauensports zu legen und diese systematisch zu beheben. Seit den 1970er Jahren machen Wissenschaftler*innen, Aktivist*innen und Sportler*innen immer wieder auf die deutliche Diskrepanz in der gesellschaftlichen Anerkennung zwischen dem so genannten Frauensport und Männersport aufmerksam. Die damit verbundenen Formen sexistischer Diskriminierung geraten in aktuellen Debatten über die Teilhabe von trans*, inter* und non-binären Menschen am Sport gänzlich aus dem Blick und werden durch Regularien wie die des IOCs eher verstärkt als aufgehoben.“

"Forward Remina Chiba is reportedly on the verge of a move to the top Italian club Juventus Turin. This is according to Italian football journalist Mauro Munno, who is considered an expert on women's football in Italy. The Japanese player could leave the Frankfurt side on a free transfer in the near future, as her contract with SGE expires at the end of June 2026."

Translation (paywalled article)

Jürgen Koers

27.06.2026

The BVB women’s team begins its pre-season preparations on July 7, featuring Alexandra Popp. Here is the information on friendly matches, the training camp, and the new training facility.

The key points:

Borussia Dortmund's women's team is starting pre-season with a revamped squad. Promotion is a must.

The team is kicking off with spectacular new signings, such as Alexandra Popp.

The new training facility is scheduled for completion by October.

In less than two weeks, Borussia Dortmund’s women’s football project will reach its next stage of development. It won't be in the 2. Bundesliga as hoped and planned, but rather continuing in the Regionalliga West—albeit with a squad guaranteed to turn heads. It has now been confirmed when BVB will hold its first public training session featuring Alexandra Popp and goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.

BVB training camp in Westendorf

Following performance assessments split across July 7 and 8, the team will kick off training at Hoeschpark, with a public session scheduled for July 10 in Brackel. Starting at 3:30 PM, fans will be able to see not only current and former national team players but the entire revamped squad with which BVB is targeting the championship and promotion.

"By signing these new players, we hope to gain the stability throughout the season that we were lacking at times last year," said BVB Managing Director Svenja Schlenker in an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten.

"We hope that all the new players quickly feel at home and integrate into the team so that we have a cohesive unit on the pitch from the very first game. We are also confident that many players from the existing squad will benefit from the experience of our new signings and, in turn, elevate their own performance levels."

BVB training pitches set for completion in October

BVB— led by coach Markus Högner and sporting director Ralf Kellermann — have already arranged half a dozen friendly matches and a training camp. The team will prepare for the upcoming season in Westendorf, Austria, from July 17 to 24. Two or three of these pre-season matches are scheduled to take place in Dortmund. If everything goes according to plan, this will include a friendly match during the season-opening event on August 15, held just before the men's professional team plays AS Roma next door at Signal Iduna Park (5:30 p.m.).

There is also progress to report regarding the planned training facility for the BVB women's team, which is being built in the Brackel district right next to the existing training center. Following some delays, the two training pitches are expected to be ready for use by early October, according to information from the Ruhr Nachrichten (RN). Until then, the finishing touches still need to be applied to the — now improved - grass pitch at Hoeschpark."

Translation:

"The 1. FSV Mainz 05 women's football team is beginning preparations for its debut season in the Women's Bundesliga. According to the club, the opening training session will take place on June 30 at 3:00 p.m. on artificial turf pitch 1 at the Wolfgang-Frank-Campus in Mainz.

The session was originally scheduled for an earlier time but was moved at short notice due to the heat. New signings Lara Martin and Leonie Stöhr from 1. FC Saarbrücken will not yet be present; both were still competing in the 2. Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-offs with their previous club as recently as last weekend. Vital Kats is also not yet joining the squad, having played international matches for Israel following the end of the season."

Union women’s team to open season against Inter Milan

For this year's season opener at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, the 1. FC Union Berlin women's professional team will once again host a high-profile opponent: Inter Milan will visit the stadium on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Kick-off is at 3:00 PM.

Lina Magull, who has made 77 appearances for the national team.

As part of the official season opener, the entire women's professional squad will be introduced to the crowd before the match. Last year, more than 13,000 spectators attended the season opener against Real Madrid at the stadium.

Ticket Information

Tickets will be available at the Union-Zeughaus starting in mid-July. Specific details regarding the start of ticket sales will be announced in early July.

Translation for the German article linked above, going a bit more into detail on the CAS ruling about the legal implications of a player's pregnancy:

Club terminated her contract due to pregnancy

Lazio Rome must compensate former player

Dr. Franziska Kring

Maja Göthberg’s agent disclosed her pregnancy before the season began; subsequently, Lazio Rome suddenly deemed the employment contract invalid. The club must now pay her compensation, according to a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in this landmark case.

For the first time, a professional female footballer is receiving damages because her club wrongfully terminated her employment due to her pregnancy. The Italian football club Lazio Rome must pay its former player Maja Göthberg just under 70,000 euros, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled.

The 28-year-old Swede will receive 64,000 euros (gross) representing the remaining value of the contract, plus five percent interest accruing from the day after the contract was terminated. She is also entitled to an additional 5,333 euros because a club representative shared confidential information regarding her pregnancy with other players. The CAS stated that this action constituted a significant violation of her personal rights.

The players' union FIFPRO described the "groundbreaking" ruling as one that could shape the future application of pregnancy protections in professional football.

Flight booked, only the signature missing

Göthberg played for Lazio during the 2023/24 season, helping the club win promotion to Serie A. She played a key role in that promotion, prompting the club to seek a contract extension. During negotiations in the summer of 2024, a verbal agreement had been reached, leaving only the midfielder's signature pending. Her flight to Rome had even been booked for July 18, 2024.

Then, Göthberg discovered she was pregnant, and her agent informed the club. Göthberg did not fly to Rome. The club suddenly took the position that no contract had been concluded. The player suspected that the club no longer wanted to sign her due to her pregnancy, and she filed a lawsuit.

She has now prevailed before the CAS

The CAS has now ruled that an employment relationship had already been established. The CAS bases its decisions primarily on FIFA statutes and Swiss law. Other legal provisions apply only on a subsidiary basis—for instance, to fill gaps. In Göthberg’s case, all relevant legal issues are governed by Swiss law, specifically the Code of Obligations (CO). Articles 1 and 2 of the CO set out the substantive requirements for concluding contracts. Accordingly, a mutual declaration of intent by the parties is required; this can be made either expressly or tacitly.

According to the CAS, both sides had agreed on all essential terms of the contract. These included, in particular, a contract term running until June 1, 2025, and a gross salary of 64,000 euros. The sports tribunal ruled that a signature on the contract was not required. Under Article 11, Paragraph 1 of the CO, contracts governed by Swiss law are not generally subject to any specific form requirement unless prescribed by law. Regarding employment contracts, Article 320, Paragraph 1 of the CO stipulates: "Unless the law provides otherwise, the individual employment contract is not subject to any special form requirement."

The CAS found that the club had unilaterally terminated the contract—specifically because of Göthberg’s pregnancy.

The club had argued that it was the player, not the club, who was no longer interested in the contract. They claimed she had not flown to Rome and had conveyed, through her agent, that her state of health was "incompatible with competitive sports." The agent reportedly mentioned that he was informing the club of the pregnancy at that stage because, otherwise, the club would have been obliged to pay the player for the entire year. However, the CAS held that this merely demonstrated the agent’s flawed legal assessment, rather than indicating that Göthberg had lost interest in the contract.

The CAS did not accept this argument. It found that Göthberg’s pregnancy was the decisive reason for the unlawful termination of the employment relationship. To protect pregnant female players and coaches, FIFA has established binding rules setting out minimum standards regarding protection against dismissal, maternity protection, and salary entitlements. For instance, Article 18 quater(1) of the FIFA Regulations stipulates that the validity of a contract may not be made conditional upon a player’s pregnancy during the contract term.

In principle, a player bears the burden of proving the unilateral termination of a contract; however, under Article 18 quater(2)(a), the burden of proof shifts to the club in such cases. The club must prove that a proven unilateral termination did not occur because of the player’s pregnancy. The CAS found that the club failed to do so in this instance. It had previously shown a strong interest in extending the contract but suddenly decided against it upon learning of the pregnancy.

Disclosure of confidential information regarding the pregnancy

Furthermore, according to the CAS, the club significantly violated Göthberg’s personal rights when a club representative disclosed confidential information about the pregnancy to other players.

There is an increased risk of miscarriage, particularly during the first few weeks and months of pregnancy. Consequently, many women prefer to keep their pregnancy private, at least for the first twelve weeks. At that stage, the player had not even told her immediate family about the pregnancy.

The CAS deemed compensation amounting to one-twelfth of her gross salary—in this case, 5,333 euros—to be appropriate. Göthberg expressed relief following the decision. It was never just about football, she is quoted as saying in a statement by the players' union FIFPRO: "The ruling sends the message that pregnancy should never be viewed as a problem or as a reason to deny a player opportunities to play."

With material from dpa

Translation of the paywalled article:

New stadium for the HSV women's team too – the City of Hamburg’s plans

Hamburg. Women's Bundesliga football is set to take place at venues other than just the Volksparkstadion in the future. Here is why the Hamburg Football Association welcomes this development.

Rainer Grünberg

June 24, 2026, 4:33 AM

After winning promotion to the Bundesliga, they successfully avoided relegation, drew 90,138 paying spectators to the Volksparkstadion, and achieved an average attendance of 6,934—the second-highest in the league and the fourth-highest in Europe. The HSV women's football team wrote their own success story last season, and that story is now having consequences. Following years of dispute with local district politicians, the city is responding to the new situation—and this affects the future home ground of Altona 93.

Altona 93 set to remain the primary user of the new stadium

A stadium with a capacity of 4,999 spectators is planned for the former ThyssenKrupp-Schulte site on Waidmannstraße, as outlined in the Altona-Nord 29 zoning plan. According to current plans, the arena would be ready for use in the second half of 2029, with the first matches potentially taking place there in early 2030.

FC Altona 93 (AFC)—currently competing in the Oberliga—would then be able to relocate from its own Adolf-Jäger-Kampfbahn stadium to the Diebsteich site. The city, which purchased the land nine years ago, has given this assurance to the historic club. Altona 93 was previously designated as the primary user of the new stadium, and that arrangement is set to remain in place. But now, there are significant changes.

HSV women’s team could also play Bundesliga matches at Diebsteich

The 150-page explanatory report for the development plan—presented on Monday evening at City Hall to members of the state parliament and district politicians by the Authority for Urban Development and Housing—states that the stadium is intended to be open to other sports and individual athletic activities, serving as a facility for the entire district. This aspect was already largely known.

However, a new twist has emerged in the city's current concept: a Hamburg team from the Women's Bundesliga—currently HSV—is also to be allowed to host home games there in the future, effectively making Diebsteich a first-division stadium. Until that happens, the doors of the Volksparkstadion remain open to the HSV women's team.

Hamburg Football Association called for a third-division stadium

The Hamburg Football Association (HFV) and Altona district politicians—particularly the local CDU faction—had repeatedly urged in the past that the new arena must also meet the German Football Association (DFB) requirements for men's 3rd Liga matches.

The city rejected additional construction measures due to cost concerns. According to the Finance Authority, a scaled-back surrounding development—with eight stories currently envisaged—would no longer provide sufficient cross-financing for the project. The company Zech Bau is designated as the developer and future operator. The total cost of the complex is expected to be around 200 million euros.

Stadium plans being revised for the Women's Bundesliga

Now, a compromise appears to be in sight. Hamburg’s State Sports Office and the DFB have been holding constructive talks for some time regarding expanding the stadium's usage. The plans have since been revised.

"Given the limited availability of space, this would represent a real added value for Hamburg sports as a whole," HFV President Christian Okun told the *Abendblatt*. "The need exists—and certainly will five years from now—for the Women's Bundesliga, women's international matches, DFB-Pokal (German Cup) main-round games involving lower-division Hamburg teams, and other HFV competitions such as the Hamburg Cup finals for both women and men."

Natural turf is now set to be laid at Diebsteich.

Under association regulations, Women's Bundesliga matches and DFB-Pokal fixtures must be played on natural turf. Hamburg currently lacks a venue with a capacity of 5,000 spectators that meets this requirement. The original plan for Diebsteich had called for the installation of highly durable hybrid turf.

For the Women's Bundesliga, additional facilities are required, including media rooms, camera positions, and parking areas for outside broadcast (OB) vans. These elements were not included in the initial plans but are now part of the concept.

A move to Diebsteich for the majority of their Bundesliga matches would make sense for the HSV women's team. Last season, fewer than 5,000 spectators attended seven of their 13 home games at the Volksparkstadion, with slightly higher numbers for the matches against Carl Zeiss Jena (5,259) and Eintracht Frankfurt (6,010). The capacity at Diebsteich would have been insufficient only for the four top fixtures against champions Bayern Munich (17,637), Werder Bremen (12,276), VfL Wolfsburg (11,934), and Union Berlin (8,666)."

Translation:

"RB Leipzig has signed Therese Simonsson. The forward is moving from Servette Chênois to the Saxon city and has signed a contract running until June 30, 2028. Simonsson quickly realized it was the right fit: "The way things are done here and the club's goals convinced me. I want to contribute my experience, help the team both on and off the pitch, and share in successful moments together."

The Swedish player had been with the Swiss top-flight club since the 2023/24 season, enjoying considerable success during her time there. She won the Swiss league title and the Swiss Cup twice each with the club, achieving the league and cup "double" in the most recent season.

The new signing played a major role in these successes: Simonsson scored 15 goals in the Swiss Women’s Super League and the play-offs, securing the league's top scorer award. She was also named Player of the Season and earned a spot in the Team of the Season.

Viola Odebrecht, Head of Women’s and Girls’ Football at RB, is also delighted with the new arrival: "In Therese, we are gaining an experienced wide player with a drive towards goal. She actively seeks out attacking one-on-one situations, poses a constant threat, and has proven her quality as a top scorer and Swiss champion. Her composure on the ball and her experience will be a great asset to our young team's attack."

Translation:

Hertha’s Women’s Team: Latecomers in the Fast Lane

Hertha was late to register a professional women's team. However, their recent promotion to the second division is intended to be merely a stepping stone.

Berlin (dpa) – Hertha BSC has reached a major milestone in establishing a professional women's team by winning promotion to the 2nd Women's Bundesliga. "It is an achievement by everyone that cannot be overstated! We are grateful for the support from within the club and hope to take the next steps together now," said women's team coach Tobias Kurbjuweit after successfully securing promotion in the play-off, despite a 2–3 defeat in the return leg against 1. FC Saarbrücken.

His squad had laid the foundation for promotion with a 4–1 victory in the first leg. Consequently, the final result mattered little to the coach. "The only defeat this season that I can accept," said the 43-year-old.

Elfie Wellenhausen had actually secured what looked like a victory in the return leg with her two goals. However, in stoppage time, the Berlin players seemed to have their minds already on the celebrations and conceded two late goals.

Bernstein’s Legacy

The coach, who was willing to overlook the result, hopes the promotion will provide momentum for the challenges ahead in the second tier of German football. "A lot of positive things can be generated within our club," said Kurbjuweit, referring to the long-term goal initiated in 2023 by President Kay Bernstein—who passed away over two years ago—and which stands as his legacy.

"In the long run, we want to gain a foothold in professional women's football with Hertha BSC," Sofian Chahed, Head of Women's Football, had stated as the future objective at the start of the season: "For us, that quite clearly means the first division."

Werder coach Fritzy Kromp is keen on signing her since she is considered a penalty specialist:

Translation:

Another new signing for the women's team of SV Werder Bremen? According to DeichStube, a top talent from FC Bayern is on the verge of a move to the Weser.

Bremen – After numerous departures and several new arrivals, the women's team of SV Werder Bremen are likely to finalize an exciting transfer soon: According to information from DeichStube, attacking player Elira Terakaj from FC Bayern Munich II is close to joining the team at the Weser Stadium. The 18-year-old is expected to bolster the attack of coach Friederike "Fritzy" Kromp's squad.

Werder Bremen women's team close to transfer: Top talent Elira Terakaj from FC Bayern Munich is set to join.

Elira Terakaj came from FC Bayern 's reserve team , for which, despite her young age, she has already played 40 second-division matches, scoring 19 goals and providing five assists. The past 2025/26 season was particularly impressive, with Terakaj scoring 14 goals and assisting four more in 24 appearances. However, even Terakaj's goals could not prevent FC Bayern's reserve team from being relegated to the Regionalliga.

Because the ambidextrous striker, whose contract in Munich runs until the summer of 2027, has so far been denied a direct break into the Bundesliga team at the German champions, she now wants to take the next step in her career and fulfill her Bundesliga dream with SV Werder Bremen . Another plus: Following the departure of Bundesliga top scorer Larissa Mühlhaus to Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder's management, led by Fritzy Kromp, reportedly made a strong effort to sign the versatile striker, who is also considered a penalty specialist.

Elira Terakaj began her football career at TSV Bad Abbach, where she took her first steps in the game and quickly became known as a great talent. The native of the Upper Palatinate region then moved to the youth academy of FC Bayern Munich , where she rapidly developed into a key player. Even in the U17 Bundesliga, the striker caused a stir with numerous goals and recommended herself for bigger things. Terakaj is now part of the German U19 national team, with whom she will participate in the European Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina starting on June 27th. Afterwards, she is expected to begin a new chapter in Bremen with Werder Bremen's women's team . (mwi)

>"The Cypriot club AC Omonia Nicosia emerged as Eintracht Frankfurt's opponent in the semi-final. The team is making its UEFA Women's Champions League debut against Eintracht Frankfurt. The second semi-final will be contested between Vålerenga Fotball (NOR) and Malmö FF (SWE). Should they win, Eintracht will then face the winner of the second semi-final for a place in the third qualifying round."

World Cup Champion Renate Lingor is arguing against Equal Pay (one should note that she is working for DFB)

Full article: https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/dfb-frauen/2026/06/gleiche-gehaelter-ex-weltmeisterin-mit-kontroverser-aussage

>"I don't like a direct, one-to-one comparison, because the business is different; we aren't comparing exactly the same event," explained Lingor, who won the World Cup with Germany in the USA in 2003 and in China in 2007. She based this view on factors including lower attendance figures and lower TV revenues in women's football—and not just at the club level."

Manu Zinsberger discussing her choice, how her knee is doing and how she's looking forward to getting to know the team, the staff and the fans.

English subtitle is provided.

Translation:

Union Berlin evidently aims to make a serious push in the Women's Bundesliga. The team led by coach Marie-Louise Eta is currently undergoing significant strengthening. Having already announced the signings of four new players in recent weeks, the club is now apparently looking to recruit from FC Bayern. According to Bild, Union Berlin is pursuing the services of Barbara Dunst.

The midfielder moved from Frankfurt to Munich last summer but initially struggled to settle in, partly due to an ACL tear sustained in December 2024. The Austrian made 16 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern, though she started in only six of them. A transfer fee in the low six-figure range is reportedly required.

The Berlin team’s shopping spree might not be over yet, however. According to reports, there is also interest in Leela Egli. The 19-year-old Swiss player is considered a major talent and made quite a splash with SC Freiburg last season.

Several deals have already been finalized. Goalkeeper Nelly Smolarczyk, who plays for the German U19 team, is arriving from Wolfsburg, while Jella Veit and Lisanne Gräwe have made the move from Frankfurt to the capital. Both have already played for the German senior national team. Additionally, Belgian international Jill Janssens has transferred from Hoffenheim to Union.

Last season, the Berlin side caused a stir as a newly promoted team, ultimately finishing in ninth place. Their overall conduct made it clear from the start that they were aiming even higher. In terms of attendance, Union even topped the rankings with a total of 106,708 spectators.

It would certainly benefit the Women's Bundesliga to have another club—like the Berlin team—step up and challenge the usual suspects such as Bayern, Wolfsburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt."